Colchester gas pipes set for new year replacement

• Essential work in Colchester will help keep residents connected to safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating.
• The scheme involves replacing 1.2 kilometres of ageing gas mains along Maldon Road with traffic management in place throughout.
• The nine-week scheme is scheduled for completion by early March.

A project to upgrade 800 metres of a 1.2km project of ageing gas main pipelines in Colchester, will get underway from 5 January 2026 for nine-weeks.

The planned activity will involve the decommissioning of current metallic gas pipes – which were originally installed in the 1930s - and installing tough new pipes which will last for decades, future-proofing the local network.

The project is part of a £91m investment which will see more than 300km of pipes upgraded in the East of England before the end of March 2026.

Engineers from Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, will be starting work on Monday 5 January 2026, along Maldon Road from Athelstan Road, to Ingliss Road.

Due to the location of the gas main the work taking place on Maldon Road will be carried out using temporary traffic lights, with no access from the side roads onto Maldon Road.

As we work our way up Maldon Road the following side roads Athelstan Road, St Helena Road, Constantine Road, Hamilton Road, Honywood Road, Errington Road and Ingliss Road junctions will be closed. Access for residents will remain in place via short diversions.

Cadent Project Manager, Gary Tidman, said: Here at Cadent, we have a responsibility to make sure every property that uses gas has access to a safe and reliable supply, 24/7, 365 days a year. 

In this part Colchester, around 80 per cent of homes have gas central heating. Upgrading these pipelines will ensure we can continue to distribute gas safely to them, for many decades to come.

These upgrades also have big environmental gains, as they reduce methane emissions and enable a move to more renewable gases like biomethane. This is essential for a cleaner future – the UK will need energy to come from a range of sources to meet demand and be sustainable. 

We have worked with the local highways team, as well as local authorities to try our best to ensure that we minimise disruption, whilst we carry out these essential works. 

We are very conscious of the disruption works like this cause and hope people can accept this project is essential to maintain a safe gas supply.

The remaining 400 metre section will be completed at a later date once the Highways Authority confirm a suitable date, to finish the mains replacement work along Maldon Road from Ingliss Road to the Maldon Road roundabout./Southway.

Gas stays ON for the duration of the works. The only interruption to supply will be to properties that take a direct feed from the pipes being replaced (in the immediate local area). Supply to these properties will be disconnected for a short while (it will be back on the same day it goes off), as the property gets connected into the new pipe. Advance notice will be given, and more information will be provided to these properties.

If you smell gas, always ring the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999*, day or night. Do not assume it is related to these works; it may not be and needs to be checked.